"When I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go" (Song of Solomon 3:4). My name is Kristy Dykes, and I write Christian love stories for Barbour Publishing...perhaps because I live with a hero husband. At this site, I cover marriage, romance, and Christian fiction. These book titles make me smile--and offer great truths: Sometimes I Wake Up Grumpy and Sometimes I Let Him Sleep, Love Extravagantly, Every Marriage Is A Fixer-Upper, Red-Hot Monogamy.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

It's almost ten p.m., and I just came through the valley of the shadow of death, for the last hour and a half. That's the only way to describe it. I saw myself leaving my husband and two daughters and grandchildren, and I started wailing, and Milton had me come sit with him on the sofa, and he held me tightly, and I screamed out, and he said, "Just let out, just let it out," and I wailed and screamed and cried until I thought I couldn't stand it. I filled tissue after tissue, and my eyes grew swollen and hurtful, and I kept wailing. It went on for a long time.

Milton grabbed the phone and called his sister and brother in law. They started speaking words of life to me, manna that lifted my spirits, and I began to calm down, and then the four of us bombared heaven, and let me tell you, GOD CAME ON THE SCENE. I thought my heart was breaking when all that started, and now it's as ligth as a feather! They told me such good things, oh, my. What powerful, life-sustaining words that brought back my hope and peace and joy.

And then we called Milton's parents. Yep, they're ministers, too. And Dad Dykes gave me a wonderful word, too, about when the Hebrew spies went to scout the land, when they saw the giants, two of them looked at God and said, "They are small before our God," and Dad said, "Kristy, this spirit of grief, this cancer even, IS SMALL BEFORE OUR GOD."

***

We jokingly call ourselves a Levite family. We have almost 30 ministers and wives in our family! And I'm so grateful. I walked through another valley Saturday night, and called my brother's wife and then Milton's other sister, and when they both finished, the valley lifted. Galatians says to bear one another's burdens. That's what happened Saturday night, and tonight, too.

Thank You, God, for your blessings on me. I feel so good, I feel like telling a joke.

You know what the Bible says about laughter being so good for us. I quote that all the time.

***

Since my diagnosis, I've been like a social butterly, being so happy and joyful and telling jokes, and trying to comfort others. It's been so great. So I'm very grateful I haven't faced much of what I described on this post. God is keeping me in His care, and He's promised me He'll continue to do that.

Kristy,Crying out to God, shedding tears...they are all part of the journey. Remember that God sees our tears and stores them in a bottle! I am praying still, and always. Thank you for how you and Milton are ministering to all of us.

My heart cries out with you. I can remember well screaming and crying out through my house, "Asking God, Where are my Blessings? You promised me Blessings!" This was at a particulary down time in my life when my husband had passed away and finances were so short and then the Insurance Co. refused to pay.

The next day I asked God to forgive me for my out burst and his word in my heart was, For what, you only asked where your blessings were. I laughed out loud because he did not elude to the total fit I really pitched. What an Awesome God we Have.

I'm now married to a wonderful man who has undone all of my heartaches and tears and I feel so blessed.

You Kristy are such a blessing to all of us and God is holding you in the palm of his hand. The healing we are all praying for will come. The words you are sharing and storing up in your heart are priceless.

Oh Kristy....Milton...As children of God, we have all had to walk that valley at one time or another. But oh the peace that comes knowing God is there in the valley too!! He is so faithful to bring us through the valley and back into His joy!

Hi Kristy,Thanks for sharing so honestly the struggle and the victory. All those emotions are real and Milton is so right, it is good to get them out and let the Lord ministry to our heart. I am so glad you are surrounded by such a strong team of family and friends who can lift you up with God's Word's of life. So many times each day you come to mind and I pray for you and Milton to have courage and keep trusting God for all you need.

As you know, I started using the names of God when I pray (I hope you got the bookmark I sent you with them on it). One of my favorite of His names is El Roi - the Lord sees me. What a thought! He actually sees me ... and you. And He's our companion - Jehovah-Shammah.

All His attributes are names. Somehow, praying His names made Him even more personal and close. There's power in God's name.

And I'm praying all the power of El Shaddai will rain down over you, lashing out at the cancer as Jehovah-Rapha heals you.

I have just read Valley of the Shadow of Death. I would love to send you a compliation of 8 songs on a CD that I feel would greatly minister to you. Everytime I listen to it the Holy Spirit comes and does His work...being the comforter! If this would be ok, please respond to me at e.holmberg@sbcglobal.net. One of the songs is by Mark Schultz, entitled "He Will Carry Me" and here are the words..

HE WILL CARRY ME

Chorus 1And even though I'm walkin' throughThe valley of the shadowI will hold tight to the hand of HimWhose love will comfort meAnd when all hope is goneAnd I've been wounded in the battleHe is all the strength that I will ever needHe will carry me

Verse 1I call You hear meI've lost it allAnd it's more than I can bearI feel so empty

Thank you all so much for these comments. I'm just now reading them, and when I saw "reading," it's splotchy. See, I can write, zipping along usually, but to read, it's slow going. But it's getting better and better.

Isn't it funny how a shadow can look so much larger than the object casting it? The shadow of death, is being cast by the light of god, our Savior. He is dwelling in unapproachable light, and His light is the life of man. May His light shine on you, and warm you in all your ways, and shed light on the path He has laid before you. You are very special in The Lords' eyes and in ours. I pray that God will continue to bless you and yours Beloved of our Father. tom

About Me

“Pizzazz! Enthusiasm! High energy! Those are a few of the words that describe Kristy Dykes. From the moment she steps up to the platform, she captivates your attention. As both a writer and a speaker, Kristy is moving and motivating. She will touch your heart with love and laughter.”-- FLORENCE LITTAUER. A former newspaper columnist, Kristy Dykes is an award-winning author of 10 Christian fiction titles as well as over 600 articles in many publications including two New York Times subsidiaries. Her titles have been on the Christian bestsellers list and Top 20 List at christianbook.com, and have won many awards including Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold, Third Place in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and Third Place in the ACFW 2006 Book of the Year Contest (novella category). Kristy writes a column for the ezine of the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America, has taught at many conferences and two colleges, and speaks for women's and writers' events.
Living a kaleidoscopic life as a pastor’s wife, she jokes that she has 1.2 million acts of kindness in circulation instead of 1.2 million books. And she loves every minute of it!

A RECENT AWARD

Kristy won Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold for her novella "Angel Food" in the 4-in-1 collection Kiss the (Cook) Bride. She won Third Place for the same title in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, awarded by FHL, the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America. Kristy also won Third Place in the 2006 Book of the Year Contest, awarded by American Christian Fiction Writers, for her novella "Reunited" in the 4-in-1 collection Wedded Bliss?.

KRISTY'S PUBLISHED WORKS

The Heart of the Matter

Kiss the Bride

Wedded Bliss?

Room At the Inn

Holiday At the Inn

The Tender Heart

Church in the Wildwood

Sweet Liberty

American Dream

KRISTY'S UPCOMING RELEASE

Florida Weddings (Spring '08)

KRISTY'S LATEST BOOKS

1) The Heart of the Matter, a novel, is now available at christianbook.com. "Can Luke overcome his vain prejudice? Can Jeris allow her tender heart to trust again? Will they let God show them the heart of the matter?" (1 Samuel 16:7) 2) Kiss the Bride, a 4-in-1 novella collection, is also available. Coauthors: Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky. Plot: Four restaurant owners discover a dash of hope, a dollop of longing, and a plateful of faith are the recipe for romance.